Jeff’s blog

As many of you know, I am a White Sox fan, maybe even a fanatic. And as some of you know, Mark Buehrle threw a perfect game today. For those that don’t know what a perfect game is, he faced the minimum 27 batters and not one got on base via a hit, walk, hit by pitch, nothing, not one batter. How rare is this, in the 100 plus years of MLB, this was the 18th perfect game. Just this year alone, there will be 2,430 games played, not including the post season.

What makes this even more rare is that Mark Buehrle is not a power pitcher, usually perfect games or even no-hitters are thrown by power pitchers, guys that’ll strike out half the guys he faces. Mark relies on his defense, he struck out 6. Who was the defense behind him? We’ll start with his battery mate,

Catcher – Ramon Castro, again, who? He is the Sox back up catcher and today was the 1st time he caught Mark Buehrle. The Sox just picked him a month or so ago.

1st base – Josh Fields, the Sox transplanted backup 1st basemen when he lost his starting position at 3rd. note-Fields hit a Grand Slam in this game as well to put the Sox up 4-0.

2nd base – Jayson Nix, the Sox backup utility guy, 2nd major league season

3rd base – Gordon Beckham, the Sox starting rookie 3rd basemen, who played shortstop in the minors. Today was only his 41st game in the majors.

Shortstop – Alexei Ramirez, the Sox starting shortstop who played 2nd base all last year. Only his 2nd major league season, 1st at shortstop

Left Field – Carlos Quentin, the Sox starting left fielder, but is only starting his 5th (I think) game since missing most of the 1st half of the season due to injury.

Center Field – Scott Podsednik, the Sox starting center fielder, who signed a minor league deal at the beginning of the year and got the call up when Carlos Quentin went down with an injury. Has been the MVP of the Sox since.

Right Field – Jermaine Dye, the Sox starting right fielder. Has been for years.

Designated Hitter – Paul Konerko, the Sox usual starting 1st basemen, given the day off from the field.

Defensive Replacement, center field – DeWayne Wise, why do I mention him? Because he made an amazing catch in center field to take away a HR in the 9th inning to preserve the perfect game.

As you can see, today’s line-up was not our usual line-up. But apparently it was the perfect line-up.

As I watched the game, I was thinking about what I know about Mark Buehrle. I know I like him, he’s one of my favorites on the team. He’s from St. Charles (been there) and is a St. Louis Cardinals (been there too) fan. Why do I mention that? Because a lot of Sox fans get upset when he publically admits he wants to pitch for the Cardinals. Me, personally, thinks this makes him human. He loves the Sox and doesn’t want to leave. He wants to pitch for the team that he grew up with, that made him a baseball fan. I admire him for making those statements. He wasn’t demanding to be traded, just daydreaming. Apparently because he makes millions, he’s not suppose to daydream. From what I hear, he’s an all around good guy, very laid back, loves his family and loves the game. Always shows up to play and wants to win. He pitches fast (never understood the whole walking around after every pitch) and could care less if the other team tries to slow him down. Like I said, one of my favorites.

This perfect game couldn’t have happened to a better guy. I applaud Mark Buehrle with my hands and my heart. I even cried when it happened, tears of joy. As a Sox fan and as a Buehrle fan. I watched his no-hitter a few years ago and have now seen a perfect game thanks to him. Memories that I will cherish the rest of my life. Thank you and Congratulations Mark Buehrle.

A matter of perception can mean a lot when it comes to the perception other have on you. For instance, my relationship with Cheri. Some people think it’s a rebound for me, some think it’ll never last because of the distance, other’s just don’t know what to think. But that’s not what this blog is about, it’s about self perception.

I can go back as little as 6 months and can tell you I didn’t think much of myself. Funny thing was, I didn’t even know it. I had confidence in my ability, always have, but my self esteem had taken a hit in the last 5 years or so. I won’t go into why as that isn’t important. What is important is how I came to the realization that my self esteem was in the toilet. I met a girl, sounds simple enough, little did I know this girl would turn my world around. What started off as a friendship, someone I could turn to just to complain or share in my joy, blossomed to what it is today.

What is it today, you ask? A real life fairy tale unfolding in front of me. Cheri and I live 600 miles a part and yet I feel closer to her than I ever have anyone. Thanks to technology, we can stay in touch 24/7. We text when one or both aren’t home, and instant message when we both are. We share pictures and videos all the time, even just to show ourselves for the day. But what does all this have to do with my self perception. Well, it’s all because of the little things that I have missed for many years. The compliments about me, the caring voice when i’m doing something stupid and when we’re together, the touching, the hand on my back, the coming up behind me and hugging me, the holding hands, the caressing and even the cuddling.

Again, what does this have to do with perceptions of oneself? I don’t remember what I was like 6 months ago. but I can tell you how I am today. I walk around with my head held high, I catch myself smiling all the time, I sing out loud, whistle, clap all just while I’m walking around. In general, i’m just a happier person. You can’t be that happy and have no self esteem. Cheri has been heaven sent just for me, she makes my life a way better place than it ever was. She has raised my esteem to heights I never thought it could go, just by showing me that someone can love me and find me attractive again. It amazes me how much one persons perception of another can make that person’s perception of themselves so much better.

In closing, remember those perceptions travel both ways, remember next time you are making fun of someone, how your perception of them might effect the perception they have on themselves. I’ve been there as well, it helped me grow but it took it’s toll on me when I was in school. But all that is in the past, I’m as happy as I can be and I see no reason for it to end anytime soon.

As most of you know, I separated from my wife at the end of last month. On June 30th of this month I moved into my own apartment. I moved in with my clothes, a TV and DVD player and my cell phone, that was pretty much it. I decided to hop in the shower at home so I got all naked and then realized my shower didn’t have a curtain yet. I said screw it and took one anyways. Turns out it didn’t matter that there was no curtain because the tub leaked all over the floor anyways. Afterwords, I went out to Hacienda with my cousins (Phil & Christine)(Kevin & Amanda) and my brother and his wife (Tony & Renee.) Kevin & Amanda live in North Carolina and were up here for the week, I hadn’t seen them in 3 years. We just had an awesome time, us men sat around and reminisce about growing up together while the women say back and laughed at how stupid we were. We were laughing so hard we were crying. It was one of the best evening I’ve had out in a long time. I returned home afterwords and unpacked my clothes and went to bed, or should I say floor. I slept on the floor in the living room the first night.

Wednesday, July 1st – Samantha’s birthday – Got up and went to work as usual. It was a good day, I didn’t get in trouble – lol. At least not bad enough that I remember a week later. After work, I went to the dollar store and picked up a bunch of stuff for the house like a shower curtain, trash cans & bags, soaps, bathroom accessories, toilet paper (main reason for the stop), ect. Put my curtain up and showered and headed to my moms where we were all going to Chuck-E-Cheeses for Samantha’s birthday. If your going to go, go on a Wednesday. It was actually nice, not very many kids and quiet or at least as quiet as a Chuck-E-Cheeses can be. Afterwords, I came home and put away some things my mom had gotten me (glasses, toaster, ect.) and packed my clothes for my trip and then went to sleep on my air mattress in the living room.

Thursday, July 2nd – Went to work for 4 hours. Got out at 11 and hit the bank, topped off the gas tank and grabbed some lunch at Long John Silvers and headed out for Virginia. Wasn’t nearly as bad of a trip as I thought it would be. Made it down in 9 hours, got a police escort for most of the way between Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. There was cop traveling down and there were about 20 or 30 of us behind him, nobody wanting to pass him. Eventually people started figuring out that he was just traveling like the rest of us. I ended up passing him doing 10mph over the speed limit at the time. Later, I topped 100mph at one point of the trip. But for the most part averaged around 85-90mph. Made it all the way without a problem until I got within 20 miles from Cheri’s then missed a turn. Eventually I got there after a few phone calls to Cheri. It was great just to hear her voice, let alone grab her and hold her when I got there. We sat down for some supper and talked. We weren’t sure how to talk without typing but we managed – lol. I showered and then we went to bed and cuddled and talked for awhile.

Friday, July 3rd – Woke up gradually, man it was nice just to sleep in. Had some breakfast and then Cheri, Skyler and I went to cruise the big city of Bristol. Ended up at an antique place so Skyler could show Cheri a table. We walked through the whole place and as much as I don’t want anything to do with antiques, I had a really good time. Just walking around with Cheri and joking around with Skyler, everything just felt natural, like I was supposed to be there. Afterwords, we were heading back home and Chris called wanting to get out of the house, so we picked him up and went bowling. Chris, Skyler and I bowled while Cheri just sat and cheered us on (with a camera, no big surprise there.) Had a really great time, again, just felt natural. Chris and Skyler were choosing our music, I had to give my money to Chris though because he likes the same as me. Afterwords we went back and hung out at the house for a little bit until I got my surprise. Cheri was taking me to a Bristol White Sox game with fireworks afterwords. Chris went with us as well. We took chairs and sat on the hillside. It was great, 2 of my greatest loves, Cheri and baseball. Watched the Sox beat the minor league team of the Cardinals 5-1 before they started the fireworks. I think Cheri watched all the people going by, not sure if she knew there was a game going on – lol. Of course, she knew about half of them too. Chris went and hung out with his friends so it ended up being Cheri and I for almost the whole game. I think Cheri was worried that I wasn’t having fun because of the ballpark but I truly had a great time, I don’t think she knows how much I appreciated her sitting with me at a game. Afterwords we hit Taco Bell then home.

Saturday, July 4th – Independence Day – Got up a little later than we planned. Eventually got around and went and picked up Chris and headed for the Breaks Interstate Park. It was about an hour and a half away. Half that distance was on windy 2 lane roads, it was great. Once we got there we hit the trails and hiked for awhile. Great scenery, love the mountains. Had an absolutely wonderful time. Hiking in the mountains is one of my favorite things to do. Hiking with the one you love was even better. After we eventually wore ourselves out, we headed back home, I stayed awake in the car, barely. Went back home, changed, and went out to Cheri’s parents house for supper. Sat down for supper, I apparently passed a mom test by eating a salad with my meal. Then we lit off some fireworks. I had a good time here as well. Went home and I kicked back on the couch while Cheri was on the Internet and once again, just felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Sunday, July 5th – Got up a lot later than planned, not that I’m complaining. Packed up all my stuff, including all the stuff Cheri got me. Procrastinated long enough to have some lunch and watch the first inning of the Sox game. I hated leaving. I had such a great time even when we were doing everyday stuff. All 3 of them made me feel like I was part of their family. It was a very relaxed weekend, I never felt nervous meeting Skyler (I had already met Chris) and I was never nervous at their place, like it was home. I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. Eventually I left and headed home, took me awhile as I hit crappy weather all the way to Kentucky where the weather cleared but I hit a traffic jam about 60 miles south of Lexington where it took me about an hour to travel 5 miles. About half way home my stereo went out on my car. Cheri claims all this was telling me I shouldn’t have left, like it wasn’t hard enough to leave. I ended up getting home around 1am and crashed on my air mattress.

Monday and Tuesday, July 6th and 7th – Now that I’m back home, I put away all the stuff that I got from Cheri (crock pot, pots and pans, silverware, cups, bowls, dishes, ect) and all the stuff my family has collected has now been delivered. I brought over the computer and computer desk from the house along with the recliner (it’s so nice to not have to sit on the toilet to put my shoes on). My mom picked up a love seat and chair for free at a garage sale. My brother brought over an old coffee table and end table. My mom picked up a queen sized box spring and mattress so I now officially have furniture in the bedroom. So in short, my living room is complete (would like to get a different TV stand though). My kitchen is pretty much complete. Bathroom only needs a few small items and I have to hang my clothes. Kids rooms have nothing as of yet but at the rate my family and friends are hooking me up, it shouldn’t be long.